KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 — Negeri Sembilan has been thrust again into its unprecedented constitutional crisis, with claims that new Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim allegedly signed a proclamation to depose the state’s ruler, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, just one day after swearing an oath of allegiance to him.

According to The Straits Times, the explosive allegation was made public in a September 5 statement by the state’s four traditional ruling chieftains, the Undang Yang Empat, who possess customary authority under Adat Perpatih to elect and — they claim — dismiss the Yang di-Pertuan Besar.

When pressed on the allegations on September 6, Ismail did not directly deny signing the decree, stating only that “the four Undang have the right to their opinion” while reaffirming that he “and the state government express full loyalty to Muhriz Munawir as the Yang di-Pertuan Besar”.

The standoff is the most recent escalation yet in a months-long palace conflict that could colour Malaysian politics ahead of key elections.

According to the statement released by the four chieftains, Ismail met them on August 3 alongside throne contender Tuanku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar, the cousin of Tuanku Muhriz and son of the previous ruler.

The chieftains alleged that Ismail signed the formal proclamation ousting Tuanku Muhriz during this gathering, paving the way for Tuanku Nadzaruddin’s installation.

Sources told The Straits Times that the private meeting was attended by top Umno leaders, including party president and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, secretary-general Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

All three reportedly declined requests for comment.

However, legal and government sources told The Straits Times that Ismail has privately claimed he was coerced into signing the document under severe political duress, alleging that Umno’s central leadership orchestrated the manoeuvre alongside the chieftains.

The same sources indicated that Ismail is preparing to lodge an official police report regarding the incident today.

Despite the purported signing on August 3, Ismail proceeded to swear in his state executive council before Tuanku Muhriz four days later on August 7, entrenching an extraordinary constitutional contradiction.

This development will again put the spotlight on Umno’s role in the Negeri Sembilan constitutional crisis.

Ahead of last month’s state election, Umno’s state lawmakers had withdrawn support for the menteri besar at the time, Datuk Seri Aminudin Harun, ostensibly for his public support of Tuanku Muhriz in the public row with the four Undang, before suddenly reversing this position.

Umno had sought to mitigate this prior to the election by positioning itself as a “mediator” to resolve the royal crisis.

“This is about crisis management. It’s how you manage the crisis. That is why the rakyat must consider all factors before they decide,” said Negeri Sembilan Umno chief Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias, one of the key personalities in the move to oust Aminudin